to form a cavity or hole in (something)
to form (something, e.g. a hole or tunnel) by hollowing or digging
to dig out and remove (something, e.g. soil or earth)
to expose (something) to view by digging away a covering
They excavated the remains of an ancient settlement
to make holes or expose things by digging
excavation /-ʹvaysh(ə)n/ noun
excavator noun
[Latin excavatus, past part. of excavare, from ex-1 + cavare to make hollow]